A vehicle system comprises: a front seat 25; an airbag 23; and a computer comprising programming for: determining a gap distance G behind the front seat of the vehicle; and selectively controlling deployment of the airbag behind the front seat based at least in part on the gap distance, and in response to detecting an impact of the vehicle. The computer may determine the gap distance based on seat position data, such as front seat track position 37a or angle of recline 37b, image data (39 figure 4), weight data from a rear seat weight sensor 35w, triangulation data, and proximity data 35p. The computer may be incorporated into an airbag deployment control system for deploying the airbag behind the front seat (figure 2B). When it is determined that the gap behind the front seat to a rear seat occupant is too small, the airbag may be prevented from deploying, or deployed to a lesser extent. If a larger gap is determined that airbag may be fully deployed. A corresponding method of deploying an airbag is also disclosed.
Gap based airbag deployment
2018-06-27
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60R Fahrzeuge, Fahrzeugausstattung oder Fahrzeugteile, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen , VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR |